Amy Poehler Delivers Emotional Speech On Helping Children At Power Of Women Luncheon

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Amy Poehler and Charlize Theron were moved to tears Friday, and it wasn't for a role.

The actresses got emotional while being recognized for their philanthropic efforts at Variety's Power of Women luncheon. Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Hudson and Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal were also honored at the fifth annual event, hosted by Aisha Tyler at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

"There are so many children in the world who have nothing," she said. "Who are we to be in this room and be living this life without helping them?"

She recently raised money for the organization with her and Jon Hamm's post-Emmys Losers Lounge party, where Emmy winners were asked to make donations to gain entry. She has also traveled to Haiti to help orphans.

Theron shed tears while thanking her mother for "teaching me through your actions to be a strong and powerful woman."

The actress brought her mom to the event, where she was being honored for her efforts to end HIV and AIDS through the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach project.

Hudson almost cried while being recognized for her work with the Julian D. King Gift Foundation, which she established in the name of her slain nephew. But she left the stage before any tears fell.

The industry trade paper Variety, which now boasts its first female publisher and editor in chief, established the Power of Women luncheon to acknowledge the worldwide impact Hollywood women make through their charitable efforts. Each of the honorees' charities was represented at the event with a booth highlighting its accomplishments.

Banks works with the American Heart Association to promote awareness of heart disease among women. Kidman is an ambassador for U.N. Women, which aims to end discrimination and violence against women worldwide. Pascal supports the suicide hotline Teen Line, and Washington is a four-year member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, which promotes arts curricula nationwide.

"So often in this town, we're celebrated for how we look and how we dress and our style, and all of that is really cool," Washington said. "But it's so wonderful to be here to celebrate women in this business for what we do, not just how we look."

Jessica Alba, a guest at the luncheon, said working with her natural-products firm The Honest Co. is often more rewarding than acting. The company, established in 2011, makes environmentally-friendly home and skincare products and shares its proceeds with needy communities.

"Entertainment is so fun and I love doing it, but this really feels like I'm doing my little part to make the world a better place," Alba said. "If you're blessed with a platform and access to pop culture and media, and you have the heart, being able to raise awareness for things that you care about is amazing."

Poehler offered another reason to help others through philanthropy.

"Giving to charity is good for your skin," she said, "and it makes your (butt) smaller."

Lisa Lampanelli vowed to donate $1,000 dollars to the Gay Men's Health Crisis organization for every member of the Westboro Baptist Church who came out to protest her show in Topeka, Kansas. She ended up donating $50,000.

Jon Stewart hosts this biannual charity comedy show that ended up raising $3.1 million dollars in grants in 2010. The night features comedians performing unexpected tasks such as Chris Rock cursing out a women's ex-boyfriend to raise money. The next one is set for this year on Oct. 31.

After Louis C.K. earned $1 million for his Beacon Theater comedy special, he took to his website to explain that he would be donating $280,000 of it to five charities. The charities were: The Fistula Foundation, The Pablove Foundation, charity: water, Kiva, and Green Chimneys.

Since 1986, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams have been the face of the charity Comic Relief, which aims to raise money to fight poverty.

He may have made a career of being an "a**hole," but Leary really has a heart of gold. After a fire claimed the life of his cousin and chlidhood friend, Leary established the Leary Firefighters Foundation. The foundation helps with funding for fire departments to have necessary equipment and resources.

This month, College Humor launched a special section of its site in support of Malaria No More featuring 24 funny videos that you can watch for just a $1 donation or more. Each video shows a comedian performing a funny task, like Ellie Kemper criticizing a puppy, Penn & Teller snorting a bean, Ed Helms swallowing a sword and more. Each contribution helps a child with Malaria.

Anthony Jeselink, Wyatt Cynac, Dave Attell and Janeane Garofalo were some of the comics who performed at New York's Comix comedy nightclub for this event to raise money for relief in Haiti. The event earned a little over $10,000.

Griffin does whatever she can to show support for our men and women overseas. In season two of her reality show she went to Iraq to entertain the troops and in 2008, she visited Walter Reed Army Hospital to perform for the patients there. In 2010 she hosted the "VH1 Divas Salute The Troops" show.

In case you didn't get that Robin Williams loves helping charities based on his St. Jude commercials (or his USO tours, or his help with "Comic Relief"), here's something else to warm your heart: In 2010, Williams donated all of the profits from his "Weapons of Self Destruction" Canterbury show to aid those affected by the Canterbury Earthquake.

Bob Hope started doing USO shows in 1941. In 1997 he was the first person to be designated as an "honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." If you want a good cry watch this tribute to Bob Hope Christmas-ing with the troops.

Known to most as an insult comic, Ross' "Patriot Act" chronicles his experience USO touring Iraq with six other comedians including Drew Carey. "You always feel like you're making an impact," he has said of his experiences performing on USO tours.

When she won "The Celebrity Apprentice", Rivers earned $250,000 for her charity of choice, God's Love We Deliver. In her 2010 documentary "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work," Rivers revealed that she does more than just give money: she also goes on annual trips delivering meals herself.

Even after the king of late night TV had passed, Johnny Carson donated $156 million to various charities.

Comedy legend Jerry Lewis was more than just dedicated to fighting Multiple Dystrophy. He hosted the annual Labor Day telethon from 1966 until 2010, giving over 40 years of support and funds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In 2009, Colbert "declared victory" and performed four shows in Baghdad. You remember, the time that Barack Obama ordered General Ray Odierno to shave Colbert's head? In his attempt to get the Iraq war back in the news, Colbert did his part, delighting troops along the way. He also donated iTunes proceeds from the shows to the USO.

To give an example of Dengeres' generosity, "The Ellen Degeneres Show" raised over $10 million for New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina devastated Ellen's hometown.

On top of supporting a number of charities, Rosie established Rosie's Theater Kids in 2003, a program that gives many low-income children experience in theater and helps them learn about the arts.

Known animal lover Betty White has been working with the Morris Animal Foundation for some time. White donated her royalties from her cheeky 2011 calendar to the organization.

Tina Fey donated money to help Books For Kids open four new libraries in Harlem, but she also went above and beyond by donating her time to read stories to children at the Harlem Day Care Center.

One of Carey's most interesting charitable contributions came when he challenged real life soccer players like Landon Donovan and Hope Solo to play him at FIFA '07 for the Glen "Mooch" Myernick Memorial Fund. Even though he won some matches in the end he still donated $160,000.

The Seinfeld Scholarship Program was established in 2000 and offers up to $10,000 in annual scholarships to New York Public School students.

Many celebrities made videos for "It Gets Better Project" and "The Trevor Project" Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook, Margaret Cho, Guy Branum and Stephen Colbert are just a few of the comedians who participated.

In 2009, high school student Kenza Kadmiry became paralyzed after she was hit by a truck at a pedestrian crosswalk. To help raise money for Kadmiry's future treatment the school held a benefit with emcee Rainn Wilson as well as Thomas Lennon and Wendy Lieberman.

In 2007, Sandler donated $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Manchester, New Hampshire.